INDUSTRY 


c A  WAR-TIME 


Preventable  fire  is  more  than  a  private  misfortune . 
It  is  a  public  dereliction.  At  a  time  like  this  of 
emergency  and  of  manifest  necessity  for  the  con - 
servation  of  national  resources ,  it  is  more  than  ever 
a  matter  of  deep  and  pressing  consequence  that 
every  means  should  be  taken  to  prevent  this  evil . 


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SAFEGUARDING  INDUSTRY 

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♦ 


IF  we  fight  as  a  collection  of  units,  we  shall  be  beaten ; 
if  we  fight  unitedly,  as  America,  we  shall  win.  Some 
of  the  fighting  will  be  done  in  the  European  trenches ; 
much  more  of  it  will  be  accomplished  in  the  factories, 
warehouses,  fields  and  homes  of  our  .forty-eight  states. 
♦  If  we  are  to  stand  any  chance  of  winning  quickly,  effi¬ 
ciency  must  be  developed  to  the  highest  possible  point — 
and  efficiency  means  conservation  as  well  as  production. 


It  is  shocking  to  note  that  America  prepared  herself 
for  entry  into  the  greatest  struggle  in  human  history  by 
increasing  her  per  capita  fire  loss  from  $1.71,  in  1915,  to 
$2.10,  in  1916.  The  $214,000,000  thus  wasted  last  year 
in  fires  which  were  largely  preventable — therefore  inex¬ 
cusable — would  have  built  nearly  thirty  thousand  aero¬ 
planes,  or  many  hundreds  of  torpedo  boat  destroyers. 

What  is  America  going  to  do  about  her  per  capita  fire 
loss  for  1917?  More  specifically,  what  are  you  going 
to  do?  Is  there  to  be  a  preventable  fire  in  property  under 
your  control  before  the  end  of  the  year?  You  do  not  ex¬ 
pect  it,  of  course,  but  are  you  taking  any  steps  to  render 
it  impossible?  Your  factory,  warehouse,  or  other  insti¬ 
tution,  great  or  small,  is  a  part  of  the  nation’s  assets.  If 
it  be  destroyed  at  a  time  when  the  nation  needs  every 
ounce  of  her  vitality,  her  ability  to  win  the  war  will  be 
lessened  to  a  proportionate  degree. 

Are  you  entitled  to  call  yourself  a  true  patriot  if  you 
are  indifferent  to  this  fact? 


The  Only 
Chance  for 
Victory 


Wasting 

30,000 

Aeroplanes 


3 


SAFEGUARDING  INDUSTRY 


4 


Your  Own 
Responsibility 


Fire  Hazard 
and  Inefficiency 


May  we  assume,  therefore,  that  you  are  awake  to  the 
patriotic  duty  of  seeing  that  your  property  is  to  have 
adequate  fire  protection,  and  that  you  desire  to  take  im¬ 
mediate  steps  to  bring  this  to  pass?  Such  steps  may  be 
simpler  and  less  expensive  than  you  have  supposed,  but 
in  any  event,  they  should  not  be  neglected  for  a  single 
day. 

Note  first,  that  the  best  time  in  which  to  fight  fires  is 
before  they  occur ;  in  other  words,  that  the  most  valuable 
fire  protection  is  fire  prevention.  Fire  is  not  mysterious. 

It  has  been  thoroughly  studied,  and  its  causes  are  well- 
known.  Most  fires  start  with  conditions  which  may  easily 
be  recognized  not  only  by  the  expert,  but  by  the  thought¬ 
ful  property  owner.  Most  fires,  therefore,  may  be  pre¬ 
vented  by  the  simple  process  of  correcting  such  condi¬ 
tions.  It  is  the  purpose  of  this  booklet  to  place  before 
you  common-sense  rules  for  recognizing  bad  conditions, 
and  simple  instructions  for  remedying  them.  What  are 
Bad  Conditions? 

1.  DISORDER :  Uncleanliness  and  fire  hazard  go  hand 
in  hand.  Buildings  of  the  most  thoroughly  fire-resistive 
character  are  liable  to  have  fires  among  their  contents  if 
there  is  “poor  housekeeping”  in  the  plant.  Disorder 
means  much  more  than  the  accumulation  of  dirt  and  rub¬ 
bish,  which  is  merely  one  of  its  symptoms;  disorder  im¬ 
plies  the  relaxation  of  those  rules  which  are  necessary 
for  safety,  economy,  and  general  efficiency. 

The  plant  where  piles  of  litter  are  in  evidence  is  apt 
to  be  the  plant  where  discipline  is  so  slack  that  workmen 
are  permitted  to  smoke  while  on  duty ;  where  fire  escapes 
are  insufficient ;  where  stairways  are  blocked ;  and  where 
all  sorts  of  fire  hazards  are  allowed  to  go  undetected. 

The  first  bad  condition  to  be  recognized,  therefore,  is 
disorder,  and  the  first  step  in  correction  is  that  of  clean¬ 
ing  up.  This  cleaning  up,  of  course,  must  not  be  spas¬ 
modic.  It  must  be  recognized  by  all  hands  as  merely  the  € 
beginning  of  keeping  clean ;  as  the  definite  opening  of  a 
new  era.  Recognition  of  this  fact  cannot  fail  to  result 
in  a  toning  up  all  along  the  line.  It  will  mean  better  dis¬ 
cipline,  greater  alertness  and  efficiency,  and  a  quicker  de¬ 
tection  of  existent  hazards. 


4 


r 


SAFEGUARDING  INDUSTRY 

2.  IGNORANCE  AND  CARELESSNESS:  These 
are  personal  elements,  closely  associated  with  the  physical 
element — disorder.  Most  factories  include  many  ignorant 
hands  among  their  employees.  People  of  this  class  gener¬ 
ally  require  definite  instruction,  both  in  their  work  and  in 
their  personal  habits.  At  the  very  foundation  of  fire  pre¬ 
vention,  therefore,  is  the  necessity  for  formulating  rules 
for  the  guidance  of  employees.  Such  rules  must  be  very 
simple,  impossible  to  misunderstand,  and  must  cover  the 
essential  points  of  fire  prevention,  fire  alarm,  and  fire 
extinguishing,  as  applied  to  the  particular  plant  in 
question. 

Carelessness  is  a  somewhat  broader  subject,  and  is 
harder  to  correct  than  ignorance.  Its  greatest  danger 
lies  in  the  fact  that  it  is  a  habit  which  is  easily  formed, 

#  and  rapidly  spread.  Its  correction  is  three-fold :  Educa¬ 
tion,  Example  and  Discipline.  Where  carelessness  is  a 
matter  of  unconscious  violation,  instruction  must  be  given, 
as  with  downright  ignorance.  Where  it  is  a  matter  of 

4  wilful  violation,  it  calls  for  well-executed  dscipline,  based 
upon  plainly  stated  rules ;  but,  in  any  event,  the  necessity 
for  good  example  is  preeminent,  and  this  example  must 
begin  at  the  top.  Habits  of  carefulness,  like  those  of  care¬ 
lessness,  are  contagious. 

3.  DEFECTIVE  EQUIPMENT:  At  this  point,  the 
subject  becomes  more  technical,  and  yet  contains  many 
factors  calling  for  the  mere  exercise  of  common  sense. 
In  a  general  way,  it  may  be  said  that  a  building  con¬ 
sists  of  its  foundation,  walls,  floors,  roof,  windows  and 
doors,  all  of  which  come  under  the  head  of  construction ; 
while  everything  else  that  it  contains  as  a  definite  part  of 
the  plant  is  to  be  classed  as  equipment.  Buildings  there¬ 
fore  are  equipped  with  their  power,  lighting  and  heating 
systems,  with  their  machinery,  furniture,  etc.  Almost 
any  of  these  factors  of  equipment  may  become  causes  of 
fire  if  of  wrong  construction,  poor  installation,  or  bad 

*  maintenance. 

A  few  rules  for  recognizing  and  correcting  defects  will 
be  given  elsewhere  (pages  11  et  seq.)  ;  however,  most 

»  people  responsible  for  property  would  do  well  at  a  time 
of  national  emergency  such  as  this  to  avail  themselves  of 

5 


" Fool-Proof ” 
Rules 


What  is 
“ Equipment ?” 


SAFEGUARDING  INDUSTRY 


4 


A  Simple 
Precaution 


expert  advice  in  the  making  of  a  thorough  inspection  of 
every  portion  of  their  equipment.  If  new  equipment  is 
contemplated,  the  item  of  cheapness  should  be  held  subor¬ 
dinate  to  that  of  safety,  and  this  quality  should  be  ascer¬ 
tained  before  ordering.  For  this  purpose  the  Under¬ 
writers'  Laboratories,  founded  and  maintained  by  The 
National  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters,  is  devoting  the 
services  of  its  large  staff  of  technical  experts  to  unceasing 
tests  of  all  materials,  devices,  and  supplies  which  enter 
into  the  question  of  fire  hazard  in  any  form.  This  work 
is  undertaken  for  service,  not  for  profit,  and  with  abso¬ 
lute  impartiality,  it  designates  as  safe  all  goods  which  are 
able  to  pass  its  searching  tests.  Such  goods  are  labeled 
or  listed  by  the  Laboratories ,  and  the  greatest  protection 
for  any  purchaser  of  equipment  is  that  of  making  sure 
that  his  supplies  are  so  designated. 

Once  purchased,  the  question  of  installation  becomes 
vital.  Careless  or  inexpert  work  at  this  point  may  in  itself 
create  hazard.  No  one,  therefore,  should  neglect  the 
precaution  of  making  sure  that  his  equipment  is  installed 
by  the  best  available  workmen.  There  would  be  an  aston¬ 
ishing  decrease  in  American  fire  loss  figures  if  these  two 
rules  governing  purchase  and  installation  were  always  ob¬ 
served.  It  must  not  be  forgotten,  however,  that  this  is 
only  the  beginning.  Even  the  best  of  equipment  must  be 
carefully  maintained,  particularly  at  the  present  time 
when  so  many  industries  are  working  at  abnormal  pres¬ 
sure.  Those  in  authority  should  be  constantly  upon  the 
alert  for  such  telltale  signs  as  worn  electrical  insula¬ 
tion,  accumulation  of  oil,  dust  or  rust  upon  machinery, 
and  all  other  evidences  of  deterioration.  Many  of  these 
signs  will  be  apparent  to  any  intelligent  man  who  is  look¬ 
ing  for  them,  but  such  constant  alertness  should  not  be 
allowed  to  replace  expert  and  thorough  inspection  at  fre¬ 
quent  intervals.  Fires,  particularly  those  caused  by  elec¬ 
tricity,  frequently  originate  in  places  that  are  out  of  the 
range  of  ordinary  observation. 

When  discovered,  no  defect  should  be  deemed  too  small 
to  be  given  attention ;  it  calls  for  immediate  repair,  or  re¬ 
placement.  The  four  rules  for  safety  in  equipment,  there¬ 
fore,  are: 


6 


*  SAFEGUARDING  INDUSTRY 

(a)  Careful  selection,  based  upon  the  approval  of  the 

+  Underwriters’  Laboratories. 

(b)  Careful  installation  by  the  most  competent  work¬ 
men. 

(c) *  General  alertness  as  to  defective  conditions. 

(d)  Frequent  and  thorough  inspection  by  experts. 

4.  FAULTY  CONSTRUCTION :  Construction,  as 
already  has  been  indicated,  includes  all  parts  of  the  build¬ 
ing  proper,  whose  function  is  merely  to  enclose  space. 
Faulty  construction  does  not  cause  fires,  but  it  is  a  large 
factor  in  spreading  them.  A  great  fire  almost  always  im¬ 
plies  faulty  construction.  This  is  particularly  a  subject 
calling  for  expert  advice,  since  fire-prevention  engineer- 

*  ing  has  become  a  well-recognized  feature  of  building 
construction. 

It  hardly  needs  to  be  stated  that  wooden  walls  and 

*  shingle  roofs  will  burn  when  masonry  will  resist  fire,  but 
it  is  also  true  that  under  certain  conditions,  a  well-con¬ 
structed  building  containing  a  good  deal  of  wood,  as  in  the 
so-called  “mill  construction,”  may  be  a  better  fire  risk 
than  a  flimsy  building  of  brick  or  stone. 

The  layman  who  is  giving  careful  thought  to  this  sub¬ 
ject  should  view  his  fire  danger  from  two  standpoints: 
those  of  fire  originating  on  the  inside,  and  on  the  outside 
of  his  plant.  If  fire  originates  upon  the  inside,  it  natu¬ 
rally  will  attack  the  inside  of  the  structure:  namely,  its 
floors,  ceilings,  posts,  inner  wall  surfaces,  etc.  If  these 
are  of  an  inflammable  nature,  a  local  blaze  may  quickly 
spread  through  the  plant,  and  become  a  general  fire.  The 
observer,  therefore,  should  examine  such  features  with 
this  thought  in  view.  He  should  recognize  the  necessity 
for  fire  walls  and  fire  doors  at  the  proper  intervals,  so 
that  fire  cannot  spread  to  all  portions  of  the  same  floor, 

*  and  he  should  pay  particular  attention  to  the  necessity  for 
protecting  openings  such  as  stairways,  hoistways,  ele¬ 
vator  shafts,  etc.,  leading  from  floor  to  floor. 

*  Any  layman  can  recognize  defects  in  these  features 
when  once  his  attention  has  been  called  to  the  subject, 

7 


Four  Rules 
for  Safety 


Inside  and 
Outside 


SAFEGUARDING  INDUSTRY 


How  About 
Your  Roof  f 


The  Common 
Sense  of 
Construction 


It  May  Not 
Always  be 
“ Some  One 
Else,f 


and  lack  of  precaution  in  such  matters  is  one  of  the  prin¬ 
cipal  elements  in  great  fires. 

The  question  of  danger  from  outside  fires  particularly 
involves  roofs  and  windows.  The  roofs  of  all  factories , 
warehouses ,  storehouses ,  etc.,  without  exception,  should 
be  of  incombustible  material.  The  principal  lesson  taught 
by  most  great  conflagrations  is  that  of  the  spread  of  fire 
through  sparks  or  flying  brands  falling  upon  shingle  roofs. 

Of  similar  importance  is  the  protection  of  windows. 
Ordinary  glass  readily  breaks  and  falls  out,  when  sub¬ 
jected  to  great  heat,  and  fires  thus  gain  access  to  the 
interior.  Wire  glass  in  metal  frame,  is  much  more  fire 
resistive,  and  factories  equipped  with  outside  windows  of 
this  nature  gain  greatly  in  safety,  but  where  the  element 
of  exposure  from  other  buildings  is  extreme,  open 
sprinklers  or  metal  shutters  should  be  provided,  as  well. 
Shutters  always  should  be  closed  at  night. 

The  use  of  metal  window  frames,  doors,  and  trim  in 
building  construction,  may  not  always  be  practicable,  but 
it  is  always  desirable. 

Whatever  the  material  of  the  building,  it  stands  to 
reason  that  good  design,  and  solid,  well-executed  con¬ 
struction,  tends  to  produce  comparatively  safe  buildings. 

5.  INSUFFICIENT  PROTECTION.  The  four  di¬ 
visions  already  referred  to  have  to  do  with  fire  preven¬ 
tion,  but  there  remains  the  great  need  of  fire  extinguish¬ 
ing.  Here,  again,  expert  advice  is  desirable,  but  here, 
again,  common  sense  will  go  a  long  way. 

Suppose  that  in  spite  of  precautions,  or  before  such 
precautions  have  been  fully  carried  out,  the  emergency 
should  occur,  and  a  fire  should  break  out  in  your  property. 
The  United  States  averages  more  than  one  fire  for  each 
minute  of  every  twenty-four  hours  throughout  the  year. 
You  have  no  right  to  assume  that  all  of  these  fires  will 
occur  in  the  premises  of  other  people.  Should  you  be 
called  upon  to  face  an  unexpected  emergency,  what  is 
your  basis  of  confidence  that  the  fire  would  be  quickly 
extinguished,  instead  of  developing  into  a  great  calamity, 
with  the  element  of  tragedy  possibly  involved? 

8 


*  SAFEGUARDING  INDUSTRY 

The  answer  to  this  question  is  largely  to  be  found  in 

+  the  fire  extinguishing  equipment  with  which  you  have 

*  provided  your  plant.  Common  sense  will  tell  you  that 
almost  all  fires  have  small  beginnings,  from  which  arises 
the  old  saying  that  the  first  five  minutes  in  fighting  a 
fire  is  worth  more  than  the  next  five  hours.  This  means 
that  your  means  of  extinguishing  should  be  immediately 
accessible;  in  other  words,  that  such  means  should  be 
distributed  throughout  your  premises  so  that  at  no  point 
will  they  be  far  away.  The  most  valuable  of  all  devices 
for  this  purpose  is  the  automatic  sprinkler,  which  is  too 
familiar  to  need  description.  It  provides  an  immediate 
downpour  of  water  at  the  exact  place  of  the  blaze,  and 
generally  extinguishes  such  a  blaze  at  once.  Insurance 
companies  recognize  this  protection  by  making  a  large 

+  reduction  in  rates  wherever  buildings  are  well  equipped 
with  sprinklers. 

Fire  buckets  containing  water,  chemicals,  or  sand,  have 

*  their  value  if  they  are  well  distributed  and  within  easy 
reach.  Many  of  the  smaller  fires  may  easily  be  put  out 
by  the  use  of  some  of  the  various  forms  of  hand  fire 
extinguishers.  Whatever  the  device  employed,  therefore, 
if  it  depends  upon  the  action  of  any  employee,  all  em¬ 
ployees  should  be  instructed  in  its  proper  use.  But  in 
large  plants  measures  of  fire  protection  should  by  no 
means  stop  at  this  point,  for  there  also  should  be  fire 
hose  connection  in  all  parts  of  the  plant,  proper  arrange¬ 
ment  for  securing  water  pressure,  a  thoroughly  drilled 
fire  brigade  from  among  the  hands,  and  possibly  even  a 
simple  form  of  wheeled  chemical  fire  engine.  There  must 
of  course  be  a  complete  fire  alarm  system,  frequently 
tested  and  maintained  in  working  order,  and  all  employees 
should  be  instructed  in  sending  in  alarms.  * 

Such  plants  as  are  located  in  cities  naturally  will  se¬ 
cure  additional  protection  from  the  city  fire  department, 

*  but  as  this  must  take  some  time  to  get  into  action,  indi¬ 
vidual  fire  fighting  preparation  should  be  carefully  made. 
Many  of  the  greatest. fires  would  have  been  averted  had 
such  rules  as  these  been  applied,  and  all  of  them  are, 
in  the  last  analysis,  a  mere  application  of  common  sense. 

9 


Instruct 
Every  Hand 


SAFEGUARDING  INDUSTRY 


Do  Not  '  6.  LACK  OF  DEFENSE :  We  naturally  think  of  fire 

Forget  the  as  an  impersonal  enemy  arising  from  accident,  as  is  usual- 

Incendiary  ly  the  case,  but  the  fact  is  now  being  brought  home  to  us 

that  the  possibility  of  malicious  destruction  must  also  be 
guarded  against.  To  some  extent,  this  applies  at  all  times. 
There  are  no  years  in  which  incendiaries  are  not  more  or 
less  active,  but  under  war  conditions  so  many  outrages 
have  been  attempted  that  no  manufacturer  or  storage  or 
warehouse  man  can  afford  to  take  chances.  Lack  of 
defense,  therefore,  is  a  bad  condition. 

L. 

Here  again,  the  application  of  common  sense  is  called 
for.  Anyone  having  a  malicious  intention  of  destruction 
would  naturally  seek  to  avoid  notice.  If  possible,  he  would 
carry  out  his  plans  under  cover  of  darkness.  The  elimina¬ 
tion  of  darkness,  therefore,  at  once  suggests  itself.  Plants 
and  storage  places  should  be  provided  with  exterior  lights 
sufficiently  powerful  to  illuminate  all  parts  of  the  build¬ 
ings  and  grounds.  In  the  next  place,  an  adequate  force 
of  watchmen  or  patrols  should  be  placed  on  duty,  and 
provided  with  well-understood  signals — perhaps  with 
arms.  In  the  third  place,  close  approach  to  buildings 
should  be  made  difficult,  by  means  of  fences  or  walls. 
(See  page  22.)  And,  lastly,  careful  supervision  should 
by  no  means  be  relaxed  during  the  day.  If  the  concern  is 
engaged  with  ammunition,  food  products,  or  other  vital 
necessities,  its  employees  should  be  provided  with  some 
form  of  identification  cards,  and  should  be  compelled  to 
enter  and  leave  the  premises  under  the  eyes  of  inspectors, 

Pay  Attention  who  should  give  particular  attention  to  unexplained  pack- 
to  Packages  ages.  Any  relaxation  of  rules  under  the  present  emer¬ 
gency  may  lead  to  disaster ;  this  already  has  been  the  case 
in  not  a  few  instances. 

The  foregoing  may  be  said  to  give  a  brief  review  of 
the  present  safety  needs  of  large  and  small  plants,  and 
other  industrial  institutions.  They  have  been  considered 
in  their  simple,  and  non-technical  phases,  from  the  mere 
standpoint  of  such  common  sense  observations  as  may  be 
exercised  by  anyone  of  intelligence.  The  following  pages  X 
will  summarize  some  of  the  more  technical  rules,  and 
their  thorough  study  and  application  is  most  earnestly 
urged  upon  all  recipients  of  this  booklet. 

4 


10 


PRACTICAL  SUGGESTIONS  FOR 
REDUCING  FIRE  LOSS 


I— FIRE  PREVENTION 
(A)  Cleanliness 

Maintain  good  order  and  cleanliness.  This  is  the  first 
step  towards  effective  fire  prevention. 

Give  particular  attention  to  the  shipping  and  receiving 
rooms;  prevent  the  accumulation  of  excess  packing  ma¬ 
terial  and  empty  boxes. 

Wherever  excelsior,  papers,  straw  or  other  combustible 
materials  are  used  for  packing,  keep  only  a  day’s  supply 
on  hand  at  a  time  in  a  box  or  bin,  lined  with  tin  and 
provided  with  a  counter-weighted  door  having  a  fusible 
link  to  insure  automatic  closing  in  case  of  fire. 

Use  standard  waste  cans  as  receptacles  for  such  ma¬ 
terials  as  oily  or  soiled  waste,  rags  or  excelsior,  em¬ 
ployed  in  rubbing  down  oil  finishes.  Burn  under  the 
boilers  all  such  material  as  is  past  usefulness  every  day 
before  closing. 

Paint,  varnish,  and  oil  fillers  usually  contain  linseed 
oil  which  will  oxidize,  heat,  and  set  fire  to  rags,  excel¬ 
sior,  or  other  similar  combustibles  used  for  rubbing  down 
or  wiping  up  these  materials.  Do  not  let  such  combus¬ 
tibles  lie  neglected  for  even  an  hour.  Remove  from 
the  buildings  daily  to  a  safe  place  all  combustible  waste 
material  made  in  manufacturing  unless  it  can  be  burned 
at  once. 

Do  not  permit  the  accumulation  of  any  waste  combus¬ 
tible  material  near  buildings,  especially  those  of  wooden 
construction.  Shingles  or  other  refuse  from  the  build- 

11 


General 

Order 

Shipping 
and  Receiving 
Rooms 

Care  of 
Packing 
Materials 


Care  of 
IV  aste, 
Rags,  Etc . 


Refuse 
Piles  Near 
Buildings 


The  Danger 
of  Grass 
and  Weeds 

Lockers 
and  Dressing 
Rooms 


Removing 

Refuse 

Drying 


Inflammable 
M  aterials 


Steam  Pipes 
and  Woodwork 


Discarding 

Stoves 

Testing  with 
the  Hand 


SAFEGUARDING  INDUSTRY 

ing,  waste  papers,  old  lumber,  and  empty  boxes  are 
sometimes  neglectfully  allowed  to  accumulate  in  such 
places. 

Keep  dried  grass,  weeds,  and  brush  cleared  away  from 
buildings,  since  a  locomotive  spark,  match,  or  cigarette 
may  ignite  these  and  burn  the  building. 

Provide  metal  lockers  for  the  clothing  of  employees. 
These  minimize  the  danger  of  a  hot  pipe  in  the  street 
coat  or  a  bunch  of  waste  in  the  overalls  pocket. 

Locate  dressing  rooms  in  accessible  places  where  fire 
can  easily  be  controlled. 


(B)  Common  Hazards  % 

(Heat  and  Power) 

Keep  the  boiler  room  free  from  accumulations  of 
combustible  refuse. 

\ 

Never  place  any  combustible  material  on  boilers,  ovens, 
or  flues  to  dry. 

Do  not  permit  processes  requiring  use  of  inflammable 
materials  to  be  carried  on  where  there  are  heating  devices 
with  open  flame. 

Where  steam  pipes  pass  through  or  close  to  woodwork, 
install  them  so  as  to  maintain  a  clear  space  between  the 
two  and  prevent  lint  and  light  combustibles  from  accu¬ 
mulating  there. 

Do  not  use  stoves.  In  practically  any  factory  to-day 
the  steam  or  hot  air  system  can  be  extended  to  all  parts. 

If  the  back  of  the  hand  cannot  be  held  without  discom¬ 
fort  in  firm  contact  with  woodwork  exposed  to  heat  of  N 
flues,  boiler  settings,  or  other  heating  devices,  conditions 
are  unsafe.  Do  not  attempt  to  remedy  by  covering  with 
metal,  which  simply  transmits  the  heat  and  prevents  the 
condition  from  being  seen. 


12 


SAFEGUARDING  INDUSTRY 

Soft  coal,  in  piles,  often  heats  spontaneously  to  the  ig¬ 
nition  point.  Never  imbed  wooden  posts  in  it  but  sup¬ 
port  any  building  on  brick  piers  or  fireproofed  iron 
columns. 

Provide  good  ventilation  in  any  coal  storage  building  to 
prevent  accumulation  of  gas. 

Oil  or  shavings  used  as  fuel  should  be  stored  as  advised 
by  the  rules  of  the  Underwriters. 

For  proper  lubrication  provide  good  oil  and  make  the 
bearings  readily  accessible  at  all  times ;  this'  will  tend  to 
prevent  their  neglect  and  to  avoid  accidents. 

(Lighting) 

Open  lights  or  flame  of  any  character  should  never  be 
permitted  for  use  in  the  presence  of  light  combustible  or 
volatile  inflammable  materials,  or  where  inflammable  dust 
is  liable  to  be  present ;  incandescent  electric  lights  in  such 
localities  should  be  of  the  keyless  socket  pattern  and 
enclosed  in  wire  guards,  with  operating  switch  located  in 
an  apartment  separated  from  the  inflammables. 

Wherever  inflammable  vapors  are  present,  special 
vapor-proof  electric  lamps  are  necessary ;  a  careful 
arrangement  of  the  location  of  all  switches  is  also 
required. 

The  use  of  the  incandescent  electric  current  for  light¬ 
ing  is  the  safest  means  of  illumination,  when  the  equip¬ 
ment  is  installed  in  strict  conformity  with  the  “National 
Electric  Code”  and  its  integrity  insured  by  proper  super¬ 
vision  of  the  equipment.  (This  code  is  familiar  to  most 
electricians,  but  copies  may  be  secured,  when  necessary, 
through  application  to  the  National  Board  of  Fire  Under¬ 
writers,  New  York  City.) 

Gas  brackets  must  be  rigid  and  guards  provided  for 
gas  jets  wherever  it  is  possible  for  anything  to  swing  or 
blow  towards  them.  In  such  places,  if  the  use  of  gas  is 
unavoidable,  it  may  even  be  necessary  to  enclose  the  jet 
completely. 


l;  net 

Precautions 


Lubrication 


Lights  Where 
Inflammables 
Are  Present 


Electric 

Installation 


Guarding 
Gas  Lights 


13 


SAFEGUARDING  INDUSTRY 


Gas  Leaks 


Other  Lighting 
Systems 


Safety 

Matches 


Isolating 

Dangerous 

Processes 


The  Main 
Supply  of  Oil 


Lighting  the 
Oil  House 


Isolating 

Inflammable 

Solvents 


If  the  odor  of  gas  or  other  inflammable  vapors  is  de¬ 
tected,  ventilate  the  place  thoroughly  before  attempting 
to  find  the  leak.  Always  use  an  electric  hand  flashlight 
for  such  investigations,  instead  of  a  lighted  match  or 
other  flame.  Shut  off  the  gas,  if  possible,  before  begin¬ 
ning  the  search. 

For  the  less  commonly  used  and  more  dangerous  light¬ 
ing  systems ;  that  is,  acetylene,  gasoline  gas,  or  kerosene 
oil  pressure  systems,  the  Underwriters-  have  formulated 
rules  for  installation  by  which  this  work  should  be  guided. 
(Copies  of  these  rules  may  be  secured  through  applica¬ 
tion  to  the  National  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters,  New 
York  City.) 

If  matches  must  be  used,  only  those  lighting  on  the 
prepared  surface  of  the  containing  box  or  receptacle 
should  be  permitted. 

(C)  Special  Hazards 

All  specially  hazardous  and  dangerous  processes  or  de¬ 
vices  which  may  serve  to  cause  or  promote  fire,  should, 
where  possible,  be  carefully  segregated  and  properly  sepa¬ 
rated  from  communication  with  the  plant  in  general,  and 
also  receive  special  consideration  in  relation  to  fire  extin¬ 
guishing  appliances. 


(Oils) 

If  possible,  keep  oils  outside  of  the  main  buildings  in 
a  separate  oil  house.  Never  keep  the  main  supply  of 
light  inflammable  oils,  such  as  gasoline,  kerosene,  .benzol, 
acetone,  or  mixtures  containing  them,  inside  of  the  main 
buildings  except  in  nominal  quantities  as  necessary  to  the 
processes. 

Illuminate  the  oil  house  safely  and  so  brightly  that  there 
will  never  be  a  temptation  for  an  employee  to  light  a 
match  in  order  to  see  while  drawing  oil. 

Cut  off,  by  means  of  a  standard  fire  wall,  the  place 
where  any  process  is  carried  on  using  inflammable  solv¬ 
ents.  These  are  always  dangerous. 

14 


I  SAFEGUARDING  INDUSTRY 

Catch  oil  drip  in  metal  pans ;  never  use  sawdust  or  other 
combustible  material  to  absorb  it.  Excellent  oil  cabinets 
are  made  which  drip  back  into  the  main  tank. 

Keep  pails  of  sand  for  use  in  case  of  fire  where  inflam¬ 
mable  liquids  are  used.  (See  page  18.)- 

( Other  Hazards) 

Electric  flatirons  cause  many  fires  by  resting  on  com¬ 
bustible  material.  Set  them  on  well  ventilated,  metal 
stands  and  install  in  the  circuit  a  red  pilot  light  which 
will  burn  whenever  the  current  is  on  the  iron. 

All  finely  divided,  combustible  dust,  such  as  starch, 

*  flour,  coal,  cork,  sawdust,  grain  dust,  powdered  sugar,  etc., 
will  explode  if  ignited  when  suspended  in  the  air. 
Cleanliness  is  the  first  precaution.  The  use  of  mechan¬ 
ical  dust  collectors  is  essential  where  processes  generate 

*  such  dust.  Explosions  in  these  materials  are  caused  by 
electric  sparks,  fire  from  mechanical  friction,  as  well  as 
by  open  lights. 

Make  it  your  business  to  ascertain  the  fire  hazard  of 
everything  your  factory  uses  and  safeguard  these  things 
accordingly. 

Always  set  a  gas  or  electric  burner  device  so  that  it 
will  be  clear  of  woodwork  and  connect  gas  with  a  rigid 
pipe;  not  with  a  flexible  tube. 

Lime,  unless  stored  above  the  flood  level  of  adjacent 
streams,  tightly  enclosed  against  rain,  and  protected  from 
water  from  other  sources,  is  dangerous  because  it  will 
heat  when  it  is  wet ;  this  heating  has  caused  many  fires. 

'b  ;m  ■ 

Some  hazardous  substances,  commonly  used  and  not 
always  understood,  are :  chlorate  of  potash  or  other  chlo¬ 
rates,  peroxide  of  sodium,  carbon  bisulphide,  picric  acid, 

1  ether,  acetone,  amyl-acetate,  phosphorus,  benzol. 


Drip  Pans 


Pails  of 
Sand 


Electric 

Flatirons 


Dust 

Explosions 


Studying 
Fire  Hazards 


Gas  and 

Electric 

Connections 

Lime 


Other 

Hazardous 

Substances 


15 


SAFEGUARDING  INDUSTRY 


Hazards 
in  Transit 


Preventing 

Crowding 


Screening 

Openings 

Vault  Lights 
and  Window 
Panes 

M  aintaining 
Plastering  and 
Sheathing 

Smoking 


Fire  Doors 


In  view  of  a  remarkable  increase  in  the  transportation 
of  extra  hazardous  explosive  and  combustible  materials 
by  common  carriers,  it  is  advisable  that  each  property 
owner  should  make  inquiry  to  ascertain  whether  his  prop¬ 
erty  is  subject  to  danger  from  the  presence  in  railroad 
cars  or  vessels  of  ammunition  or  other  explosives  or  in¬ 
flammable  materials,  and  to  invoke  the  aid  of  the  muni¬ 
cipal  regulations  and  transportation  companies’  rules  to 
minimize  such  danger  if  found.  Railroads  are  obliged 
to  affix  red  and  yellow  labels  to  cars  carrying  such  mate¬ 
rials;  this  will  serve  to  identify  them.  The  Black  Tom 
disaster  serves  as  a  prominent  example  of  this  danger. 

(E)  General  Maintenance 

Prevent  crowding.  This  will  make  for  cleanliness  and 
easy  inspection. 

Screen  openings  exposed  to  sparks  from  the  railroad, 
adjacent  foundry  cupolas,  and  similar  devices. 

Keep  sidewalk  vault  lights  and  window  panes  whole. 

Keep  plastering  and  sheathing  in  repair  so  that  nothing 
can  be  thrown  into  the  hollow  spaces  behind. 

Forbid  smoking  on  the  premises. 

Keep  fire  doors  closed  when  not  actually  in  use,  espe¬ 
cially  at  night,  and  keep  them  free  from  obstruction. 

II. — FIRE  PROTECTION 

Although  the  number  of  fires  can  be  materially  reduced 
by  proper  preventive  precautions,  they  cannot  be  entirely 
obviated  and  it  is  therefore  necessary  to  consider  means 
of  extinguishment. 

(A)  Private  Protection 

While  the  means  and  methods  for  fire  protection  usually 
vary  with  individual  cases,  there  are  both  automatic  and 

16 


'  SAFEGUARDING  INDUSTRY 

hand-operated  devices  of  approved  design  and  character 
y  which  when  properly  installed,  maintained  and  handled 
will  serve  to  good  purpose  in  fire  extinguishment.  Among 
these  are  the  following: 

When  properly  installed,  with  an  abundant  and  con¬ 
stant  water  supply  at  proper  pressure,  and  the  equip¬ 
ment  maintained  in  a  constantly  operative  condition,  the 
automatic  sprinkler  has  proven  itself  to  be  the  most  re¬ 
liable  and  satisfactory  fire  extinguishing  device  in  use, 
being  suitable  for  effective  service  in  practically  every 
class  of  structure  and  under  nearly  any  condition  of  fire 
hazard  arising  from  causes  incident  to  occupancy  or  proc¬ 
esses.  It  is  therefore  urged  that  such  protection  be  in¬ 
stalled  in  every  structure  where  the  nature  of  the  occu¬ 
pancy  is  not  such  as  to  render  these  devices  inoperative 

*  or  ineffective. 

When  properly  located  and  supplied  with  water,  these 

♦  devices  are  of  great  value  in  the  early  stages  of  a  fire,  and 
if  intelligently  used,  frequently  prevent  serious  loss. 

Like  fire  pails,  these  devices  are  of  decided  value  when 
available,  and  have  the  advantage  of  enabling  the  operator 
to  direct  an  efficient  stream  immediately  upon  places 
which  cannot  be  reached  with  fire  pails.  Chemical  extin¬ 
guishers  are  effective  up  to  a  distance  of  about  40  feet. 

Stand  pipes,  when  located  in  accessible  positions  and 
under  proper  pressure,  with  hose  and  nozzle  attached, 
serve  well  in  the  control  of  more  advanced  fires,  pro¬ 
vided  the  operator  retains  control  of  his  faculties  suffi¬ 
ciently  to  “stay  by”  the  appliance  and  intelligently  direct 
the  stream  delivered. 

For  ordinary  conditions,  l^-inch  linen  hose  with 
>  y%- inch  nozzles  is  advisable  on  inside  standpipes.  Such 

standpipes  should  not  be  less  than  2  inches  in  diameter, 
and  should  be  so  placed  as  to  provide  serviceable  streams 
without  requiring  too  great  length  of  hose.  The  friction 
loss  of  pressure  is  high  in  linen  hose. 

17 


Automatic 

Sprinklers 


Casks  and 
Pails 


Chemical 

Extinguishers 


Vertical 

Pipes 


SAFEGUARDING  INDUSTRY 


Steam  Jets 


Sand  Pails 


Steam  Fire 
Pumps 


Fire 

Hydrants 


Fire  Hose 


Steam  jets  are  of  value  in  suppressing  fires  in  dry- 
rooms  and  other  confined  spaces ;  where  used  there 
should  be  ample  boiler  capacity  behind  them  to  insure 
volume  of  steam,  with  controlling  valves  located  at  readily 
accessible  points. 

Dry  sand  forms  a  very  efficient  means  of  extinguish¬ 
ing  fires  in  oils,  varnish  and  other  inflammable  fluids  by 
smothering  the  flame.  A  proper  supply  should  be  main¬ 
tained,  with  a  scoop  for  its  distribution,  in  places  where 
such  inflammables  are  used  or  stored. 

These  are  a  very  efficient  means  of  fire  protection  when 
properly  designed  for  the  special  purpose,  and  situated 
in  a  structure  separated  from  the  general  plant,  with  a 
reliable  steam  supply;  there  should  be  a  sufficient  water 
supply  to  insure  continuous  operation  for  a  period  of  not 
less  than  one  hour’s  duration  at  full  capacity.  Other 
types  of  fire  pumps  may  be  used,  when  properly  installed, 
but  it  is  not  advisable  to  buy  one  for  fire  service  except 
of  a  type  designed  expressly  for  that  purpose. 

Ordinary  trade  pumps,  while  efficient  for  general  serv¬ 
ice,  are  seldom  reliable  under  the  stress  of  fire  demands. 

Fire  hydrants,  whether  public  or  private,  should  con¬ 
form  to  the  National  Standard,  with  a  barrel  of  not 
less  than  six  (6")  inches  in  diameter,  and  be  fed  from  a 
service  main  of  not  less  than  of  the  same  diameter 
forming  a  complete  circuit  of  the  system,  without  dead 
ends,  meter  connections  or  other  obstructions  to  the  free 
flow  of  water,  and  be  located  at  a  distance  of  not  less 
than  50  feet  from  the  buildings  to  be  protected. 

Hose  connections  or  outlets  should  be  of  the  National 
Standard  pattern,  unless  the  city  outlets  differ  from  it,  in 
which  event  the  outlets  on  private  equipment  should  con¬ 
form  to  the  latter.  -  . 

This  is  an  important  item  controlling  the  efficiency  of 
fire  streams  where  hose  is  used,  from  the  fact  that  the 
loss  of  head  due  to  friction  in  the  passage  of  water 
through  hose  of  the  very  best  rubber  lined  quality  (of 


18 


3  SAFEGUARDING  INDUSTRY 

2y2 "  size)  amounts  to  about  14  pounds  per  hundred  feet 

*  of  hose,  while  with  the  ordinary  quality  of  hose  on  the 
market  and  in 'use,  such  loss  of  head  may  reach  25  or 
more  pounds  per  100  feet. 

Hose  for  use  on  hydrants  and  other  devices  supplying 
streams  on  the  outside  of  buildings  should  be  of  not  less 
than  2 y2"  diameter,  with  nozzles  of  1^8-inch  smooth  bore 
pattern. 

Underground  piping  should  be  laid  in  complete  circuit 
and,  where  the  system  is  extensive,  should  be  gridironed 
in  order  to  secure  good  circulation.  Pipe  sizes  of  less 
than  6  inches  in  diameter  should  not  be  permitted  in  any 
equipment. 

In  order  to  secure  efficiency  from  any  of  these  devices, 

+  the  owners,  operators  and  employees  of  every  manufac¬ 
turing  plant  should  become  familiar  with  its  fire  protec¬ 
tion  appliances,  their  location,  purpose  and  use,  and  a 
selected  few  of  the  most  apt  and  intelligent  of  the  em¬ 
ployees  should  be  formed  into  a  fire  brigade,  and  thor¬ 
oughly  drilled  in  the  proper  use  of  the  appliances. 

Overconfidence  in  the  efficiency  of  any  private  pro¬ 
tection  equipment  must  not  be  encouraged ;  make  it  a  rule 
in  every  instance  to  summon  the  PUBLIC  FIRE  DE¬ 
PARTMENT  upon  the  first  discovery  of  a  fire,  and  then 
make  the  most  prompt  and  effective  use  of  the  equipment 
at  hand. 

All  private  fire  protection  equipment  should  be  under 
the  care  and  supervision  of  some  one  capable  person,  who 
should  be  instructed  to  make  regular  and  careful  inspec¬ 
tion  of  all  appliances  at  least  once  each  week,  and  more 
frequently  where  the  equipment  is  large  or  intricate.  He 
should  be  empowered  to  correct  any  defects  and  to  make 
written  reports  to  the  management  upon  the  completion 
of  each  such  inspection.  Particular  attention  should  be 

*  given  to  the  valves  and  other  controlling  devices  of  any 
automatic  equipment  to  insure  prompt  operation  in  emer¬ 
gency,  and  where  possible,  the  whole  equipment  should  be 

*  regularly  tested. 


Underground 

Piping 


Fire 

Brigade 


Call  the 
Public  Fire 
Department 


Inspection 
and  Supervision 


19 


SAFEGUARDING  INDUSTRY 


* 


W  atchmen 


Changes 
in  the 
Plant 


Inspection 
by  Firemen 


Calling  the 
Department 


Access  to 
Hydrants 

Securing 
Free  Flow 


Watchman's  service  should  be  maintained  at  all  times 
when  the  plant  is  not  in  operation,  and  the  record  of 
service  be  shown  on  such  mechanical  device  as  will  not 
permit  evasion  of  duty;  records  should  be  examined  and 
checked  over,  filed  and  dated  each  day.  (See  page  23.) 

-  When  additions  to  or  changes  in  the  buildings  of  the 
plant  are  made,  it  is  necessary  to  make  sure  that  the  ex¬ 
tension  of  the  hydrant,  sprinkler,  or  other  fire  protection 
system  keeps  pace  with  the  work  and  that  any  unneces¬ 
sary  interruption  to  any  part  of  the  fire  protection  be 
avoided.  When  interruption  is  unavoidable,  its  extent 
should  be  restricted  as  much  as  possible  and  the  inter¬ 
rupted  service  should  be  restored  with  the  least  possible 
delay.  These  precautions  are  often  neglected,  but  they 
are  vital  to  the  protection  of  the  plant. 

(B)  Public  Fire  Protection 

While  public  fire  department  and  water  supply  organi¬ 
zations  and  equipment  are  usually  beyond  the  control  of 
private  organizations,  much  good  may  be  accomjdished 
through  cooperation  between  such  departments  and  the 
property  owner. 

The  chief  of  the  fire  department  and  his  assistants 
should  be  encouraged  to  visit  the  plant  and  inspect  in 
detail  its  fire  protection  equipment  in  order  to  plan  coordi¬ 
nation  of  service  when  summoned  to  aid. . 

One  or  more  public  fire  alarm  boxes  should  be  visible 
and  accessible,  day  and  night ;  capable  employees  should 
be  instructed  in  their  use  and  also  as  to  reaching  the  fire 
department  by  telephone.- 

Public  hydrants  should  never  be  obstructed  by  private 
building  or  repair  operations  or  by  the  supplies  therefor. 

Where  private  fire  protection  equipments  are  connected 
to  public  water  seryice,  every  efifort  should  be  made  to  se¬ 
cure  free  flow  and  supply,  avoiding  as  far  as  possible  all 
obstruction  to  flow  by  meters  or  otherwise.  This  is  par¬ 
ticularly  necessary  where  automatic  sprinklers  are  used. 


20 


SAFEGUARDING  INDUSTRY 


> 

<r 

In  considering  water  supply  it  is  necessary  to  realize 
C;  that  both  volume  of  flow  and  pressure  at  the  point  of 
delivery  of  the  stream  are  of  prime  importance. 


Expert  advice,  both  in  planning  and  supervision,  should 
always  be  secured.  Water  mains  should  be  laid  in  com¬ 
plete  circuit  and  be  of  sufficient  size  to  insure  the  delivery 
of  an  adequate  number  of  fire  streams  without  serious 
loss  of  pressure. 

A  “standard  fire  stream”  demands  the  delivery  of  not 
less  than  250  gallons  of  water  per  minute  through  a  1^" 
smooth  bore  nozzle  and  to  secure  this  volume  it  requires 
a  pressure  of  not  less  than  45  pounds  to  the  square  inch 
at  the  base  of  the  nozzle;  this  will  give  approximately 
a  reach  of  63  feet  horizontally  and  about  70  feet  ver¬ 
tically. 


III.— FIRE  DEFENSE 
Guarding  Against  Malicious  Damage 

i 

During  war  times  we  are  obliged  to  think  also  of  dam¬ 
age  occasioned  with  intent,  partly  on  account  of  the 
direct  acts  of  enemy  spies,  and  also  on  account  of  indirect 
trouble  which  they  may  foment  or  which  may  be  occa¬ 
sioned  by  the  effect  of  the  disturbing  influence  of  the 
times  upon  employees  or  others  not  in  the  employ  of  the 
enemy. 

Such  measures  require  the  enclosure  of  the  plant  so 
that  strangers  or  unauthorized  people  cannot  get  to  it, 
closer  scrutiny  and  identification  of  those  who  are  per¬ 
mitted  to  enter,  and  careful  investigation  of  new  em¬ 
ployees  and  close  watch  of  any  suspected  ones,  and  the 
maintenance  of  a  system  of  watchmen  or  guards.  For 
large  plants  it  may  be  necessary  to  maintain  continuous 
watch  with  an  armed  patrol  organized  under  the  military 
plan,  and  at  smaller  plants  to  strengthen  the  ordinary 
watchman  service. 


Insuring 
Volume  and 
Pressure 


Intentional 

Acts 


Enclosing  and 
Guarding 


21 


SAFEGUARDING  INDUSTRY 


Watching 
Vital  Points 


The  Fence 


Entrance 

Point 


Outside 

Lights 


Window 

Guards 


Investigating 

Applicants 


Watchmen 


In  either  case  there  should  be  close  watch  of  the  por¬ 
tions  of  the  plant  which  are  vital  to  its  operation,  such  as 
the  power  plant,  electric  lines,  and  transformer  houses, 
the  water  supplies,  and  any  other  special  and  indispensable 
buildings  or  machinery. 

In  order  to  make  the  guarding  of  the  plant  more  effec¬ 
tive,  it  should  be  enclosed  with  a  fence  that  does  not  pre¬ 
vent  seeing  what  goes  on  outside,  but  will  prevent  those 
outside  from  getting  in.  It  should  therefore  be  substan¬ 
tial  and  especially  designed  for  this  purpose. 

Any  employees  or  other  persons  who  enter  the  en¬ 
closure  should  do  so  at  a  specific  point  where  gate-keep¬ 
ers  are  provided  to  make  or  secure  proper  identification 
of  each  individual. 

For  efficiency  in  night  service,  the  fence  line  should  be 
fully  illuminated  by  flood  lights  or  other  electric  lighting 
means  and  the  yard  should  likewise  be  fully  illuminated, 
lights  being  placed  so  that  they  are  safe  from  disable¬ 
ment  by  outsiders. 

Any  buildings  which  abut  the  property  line  should  have 
windows  barred  or  otherwise  effectively  closed  where 
these  are  in  a  position  to  be  easily  reached  from  outside. 

In  employing  workmen,  exceptional  care  should  be 
taken  to  investigate  thoroughly  the  credentials  of  each 
one  before  he  is  admitted  to  employment,  and  to  provide 
unmistakable  means  of  identification.  Aliens  of  enemy 
nations  should  not  be  employed  until  the  most  exhaustive 
investigation  leaves  absolutely  no  doubt  of  their  good  will. 

The  protection  of  plants  of  ordinary  size  is  usually  in¬ 
trusted  to  watchmen,  who  guard  against  the  encroach¬ 
ments  of  evil  disposed  persons  and  exercise  supervision, 
especially  at  night,  over  the  care  of  the  plant  in  regard  to 
hazards  and  general  maintenance.  Too  often  a  watchman 
is  employed  at  an  inadequate  salary  and  is  either  physical¬ 
ly  unfit  or  not  sufficiently  intelligent;  sometimes  such  a 
man  is  unable  to  speak  English.  This  is  foolish  economy 
because,  especially  at  night,  the  plant  is  practically  in- 

22  " 


#  SAFEGUARDING  INDUSTRY 

»*r 

trusted  to  the  sole  care  of  such  man  or  men.  The  impor- 
w  tance  of  the  work  warrants  the  payment  of  adequate 
wages  to  secure  a  man  with  the  proper  qualifications,  the 
following  being  the  most  important : 

( 1 )  Good  character  and  intelligence. 

(2)  Physical  strength  and  soundness. 

(3)  Ability  to  speak  English  and  any  other  language 
commonly  used  by  the  employees. 

(4)  Sufficient  mechanical  ability  for  his  job. 

Such  a  watchman  should  be  aided  by  having: 

(1)  An  approved  watch  clock. 

Jh  (2)  Some  easy  means  of  calling  help,  including  access 

to  the  public  telephone  on  the  premises. 

(3)  Access  to  a  nearby  public  fire  alarm  box,  if  pos- 
^  sible  located  on  the  premises. 

(4)  Good  illumination  of  the  yard  and  approaches. 

(5)  Specific  advance  instruction  concerning  the  proper 
procedure  in  the  most  important  and  most  probable  emer¬ 
gencies. 

Detectives  may  be  necessary  as  a  part  of  the  guards  to 
make  such  work  effective ;  they  should  be  under  the  same 
discipline  and  close  observation  of  superiors.  Little  dis¬ 
cretion  can  be  given  guards,  who  should  be  required  to 
enforce  rules  strictly  and  to  refer  special  cases  to  su¬ 
periors. 

Guarding  must  be  thoroughly  done  to  be  effective ;  half¬ 
way  measures  are  a  waste  of  time,  effort  and  money. 
Frequent  tryouts  of  the  guarding  system  should  be  made 
by  the  executive  heads  of  the  plant  to  prove  the  system. 
A  The  head  of  the  guards,  detective  staff  and  fire  marshal 
should  be  in  close  cooperation  and  should  hold  frequent 
consultations  and  all  subordinates  and  employees  should 
^  be  encouraged  to  report  oversights,  defects  and  flaws  in 
any  part  of  the  protection  systems. 


Guards 


Guard 
“ Try-Outs ” 


23 


Self- 

Inspection 


Inspection 
by  the 
Chief 
Executive 


Cooperation 

Necessary 


SAFEGUARDING  INDUSTRY 

( 

IV.— INSPECTION  AND  SUPERVISION 

Even  after  instructions  have  been  given  and  a  course 
has  been  mapped  out  to  provide  for  the  proper  care  of 
the  plant  and  its  hazards,  it  will  be  necessary  to  check 
the  execution  of  these  plans  by  inspection  and  supervision. 
The  best  means  for  this  is  commonly  called  a  “self-in¬ 
spection'’ ;  that  is,  an  inspection  of  the  plant  made  by 
some  regularly  appointed,  reliable  employee  who  shall  be 
held  responsible  for  the  work  and  shall  be  guided  by  a 
specifically  drawn-up  blank;  this  blank  he  is  expected  to 
fill  out  as  he  makes  his  inspection  rounds,  at  intervals 
sufficiently  frequent  to  be  effective — perhaps  once  a  week. 
These  filled-out  blanks  are  filed  in  the  head  office  and 
regularly  examined  "and  checked  by  the  manager  of  the 
plant,  who  provides  the  remedy  for  any  defects  noted. 

It  is  generally  found  by  insurance  inspectors  that  in  a 
plant  of  any  size,  the  chief  executive  has  not  for  a  long 
time  made  a  tour  of  the  plant  as  a  whole  and  that  he  does 
not  know  of  conditions  in  portions  of  it  which  he  would 
not  suffer  if  he  did.  It  is  therefore  advisable  that  the 
chief  executive  shall  make  occasional  complete  tours  of 
the  plant.  This  wiff  have  the  effect  of  keeping  the  others 
up  to  high  standard  and  of  improving  the  general  work 
of  fire  prevention  and  fire  protection. 

In  presenting  these  suggestions  it  is  hoped  that  they  will 
enlist  the  hearty  cooperation  of  all  who  have  the  interests 
of  this  nation  at  heart,  for  the  adoption  of  the  precau¬ 
tions  recommended  will  play  an  important  part  in  the 
reduction  of  the  fire  loss  and  thus  in  the  economy  of  re¬ 
sources  necessary  to  the  successful  prosecution  of  the 
war.  The  insurance  companies,  having  done  everything 
possible  to  help,  stand  ready  to  cooperate  with  expert 
advice  to  the  common  end. 


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